leedsutd365.co.uk

Regular readers of LeedsUtd365.co.uk will know that we have been outspoken in opposition to the moving of Leeds United games by police simply to make them more difficult for Leeds fans to attend. It calls into question the whole ethos of a ‘level playing field for clubs’ in the Football League and the routine use of powers by the police that were designed for use in special circumstances.

Judging by the unprintable comments we have received from police officers or their supporters we must have touched a nerve out there - see our story on Yeovil last season and the two stories earlier this week.

Finally, it seems like someone else is taking up the cudgels, if somewhat belatedly, on behalf Leeds United fans. With the number of Leeds United fixtures altered in the 2007-08 season in double figures Leeds United supporters club chairman Ray Fell has finally come out and said in the YEP,

“I understand the need for rearranging fixtures when there are good reasons for doing so, but what worries me is the fact that our games seem to get moved as a matter of course.

“The first reaction to an away game involving Leeds seems to be to think about moving the date or the kick-off time, and the feeling is that we’re getting a raw deal.

“There were very few signs of trouble last season and the fans get a bit fed up when they’re being asked to visit places like Yeovil on a Friday night for no good reason.

“I think we have to accept certain games will be affected but I’d ask the police and other clubs to show common sense and a bit of restraint when considering whether a traditional 3pm kick-off time is so difficult to stick to.”

It is time the police had the courtesy to publicly give reasons why they have advised a club to move a football fixture.

The legislation may not require them to do so, but the last time I looked I didn’t live in a police state, and as the police do police us by consent, they should explain to those affected by the use of their special powers why they have chosen to do so - unless they feel that we just have to do what they say because they wear a uniform -in which case, it is time for the independent judiciary to earn their, eye-watering, public salaries and examine the use of these powers to ensure they are not being used ultra vires by the police.

Less than eight hours after the fixtures for 2008-09 are announced we have the first change of kick-off time for a Leeds United game. On this occasion it is the police in Peterborough who appear to have been surprised by the fact that their city has football club.

Despite weeks of consultation with police forces across the country, prior the fixtures being announced it appears the police in Peterborough were asleep on the job and have been caught out.

Now in a panic because some Leeds fans may turn up to watch their dismal local team they have peremptorily moved the game to 12:00. On the plus side its 12 noon rather than 12 midnight! Apparently the 3pm kick off would interfere with the police getting to the Sheepmolesters Arms for their darts and doms night at 7pm sharp!

Is it any wonder the police can’t stop crime when they can’t prepare for scheduled football matches? The Peterborough “Football Intelligence” Officer must have been trained by the Yeovil and South Wales Police forces. Do you think they are being deliberately ironic when they issue themselves with these job titles or can they really not see it?

Anyhoo - if you’re still interested in jumping through hoops to attend this exciting, nerve-jangling fixture against the Mighty Posh - it’s on Saturday October 4th - kick-off at 12 NOON.

Personally I’d give it a miss - I don’t go where I’m not wanted - but some of you may enjoy seeing the team of the spawn of the Dark Lord of Mordor, Darren Fergybum, get a good kicking from the lads in White.

It is clear that Leeds Utd have messed up badly in the sale of tickets to those who queued at Elland Road overnight.

The club and police allowed the overnighters to be displaced by latecomers who pushed into the queue this morning. As usual, the police and club wrung their collective hands and did nothing constructive and allowed the genuine fans to lose out the selfish, “me-first” parasites who are such a prevalent party of the welfare society in the country. Understandably, there were ugly scenes when the “sold out ” signs went up.

It is incredible that the club were unable to fairly distribute the tickets in the 21st century. They could have spent £50 on cloakroom tickets and handed them out to the overnighters, thus preventing anyone buying a ticket the following day until all such tickets had been redeemed at the ticket office. What’s up? Too difficult to think of? Couldn’t find an employee willing to spend overnight with the REAL fans handing out the tickets?

While we support Ken Bates on this site wholeheartedly, we have to say that on this occasion he, or his staff, screwed up big time and it is not the sort of mistake that is quickly forgiven, especially by parents whose offspring lost out on a chance to see the Whites at Wembley. He owes those who lost out a public apology - over to you Ken…

As a sop the club have announced that the Conference and Exhibition Centre at Elland Road will be open to show the game live on big screens. Not much consolation for the genuine fan screwed by the behaviour of the shameless minority.

The Football League have chosen second-rate Andy D’Urso as the referee for the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley between Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers.

D’Urso, once a FIFA and a Premier League referee is now on the lower League lists.

At least he is used to high profile games but he will be forever remembered for back-pedalling from a snarling pack of Man Utd players (Stam, Butt, Beckham, and Gary Neville), led by an out of control Roy Keane, after awarding a penalty against the Man Utd without realising that Sir Alex had forbidden such practices against his team at Old Trafford

However, his indellible memory for Leeds Utd fans will be of being in charge of the travesty of an FA Cup tie at Ninian Park, where Alan Smith was dismissed on the pitch, Cardiff chairman Sam Hamman paraded around the pitch inciting the Cardiff fans during the game, protected by a convicted football hooligan, and where Leeds fans were attacked off the pitch by Cardiff fans and outside the ground by South Wales police dogs.

(Did the South Wales police ever discipline an officer for their behaviour that day - including the assault on the president of a Leeds United Supporters Club as he was boarding a coach? Thought not).

D’Urso played a major role in the 2-1 defeat at Cardiff. He allowed Gavin Gordon to stay on the pitch after disabling Rio Ferdinand, the Leeds captain. “He nearly broke his ankle,” said then Leeds manager David O’Leary.

Dopey D’Urso then dismissed Alan Smith for a foul on Cardiff’s Legg, who admitted, “I was holding him and he was trying to shake me off, and caught me in the mouth. I got a cut lip.” In an attempt to seem less like a wimp he then alleged that Smith had “…kicked me earlier on off the ball but I ignored it.” There’s a hero, boyo!

David O’Leary was incensed by Andy D’Urso’s red card against Smith, “It was a disgraceful decision,” said the Leeds manager.

Presciently, O’Leary added. “I am wondering whether there is an agenda against Smith; referees are very quick to jump on him.”

O’Leary’s words were later proved correct when the comments of a referee’s conference were leaked which, indeed, confirmed that Smith was a pre-determined target. (Of course, once Smith moved to the Theatre of Queens he came under the protection of the Red Knight, Sir Alex Fergybum and none of the evil black dwarfs dare approach the “blond one” and he was saved from further persecution).

Back to this season and Andy D’Urso has refereed Leeds United twice already. Firstly; in the 3-0 League Cup defeat to Portsmouth in August and secondly; in the 2-0 home win over Walsall in March 2008.

In these games D’Urso only issued a total of four yellow cards, two against Leeds and two against their opposition, so hopefully he will continue this even-handed restraint in Sunday’s final.

The fact that there were no cards at all issued in the Carlisle Utd v Leeds Utd semi-final tie gives every hope for an exciting final not ruined by the inequality that a red card brings to a game.